Jurors sent home in ex-treasurer Timothy Cahill’s corruption trial

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Jurors in the corruption trial of former state treasurer Timothy Cahill have finished deliberating for the day, still undecided after about 31 hours of deliberation that began last Tuesday.

With tension rising over the high-stakes verdict as the hours tick by, Cahill defense attorney Brad Bailey asked the media, “Would you guys think it unprofessional if I let out a primal scream right about now?”

Cahill is accused of conspiring with Scott Campbell, his former campaign manager, to use a lottery ad blitz to boost Cahill’s independent run for governor in 2010. Cahill and Campbell have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Defense attorneys have told jurors the ads, which ran from Sept. 29 through the general election on Nov. 2 and praised lottery management without directly mentioning Cahill, were designed to boost sales, not Cahill’s candidacy, which ultimately failed.

Earlier in the day, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Christine Roach provided legal guidance in writing to jurors without publicly disclosing the question that jurors had asked her to answer.

Roach replied to the question after huddling with defense attorneys for Cahill and co-defendant Scott Campell, and prosecutors from Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office.

From the bench she ordered attorneys in the case not to publicly discuss the question. And she sent jurors back to resume deliberating.

Martin Finucane of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Michael Levenson can be reached at MLevenson@globe.com